Un-Welcome Home

This was not the first post I was expecting to write after returning from my summer hiatus. After a great trip back home and an even more fun stop over we were all a bit home sick and so happy when we finally landed in JFK. Our 8pm flight stood on the tarmac for another hour because of some rain which caused the departing flights to be delayed and hence an airplane traffic jam! what annoys me is that with all the technological advancements why do we still have to put up with these slight weather delays.. it was light rain not a thunderstorm!!

We disembarked the plan around 9:30pm making our way to a hallway that led to stairs that would eventually lead us to immigration. Because of all the delays there was a significant crowd.. everyone tired.. and then we heard the vibration.. it took a second to place and then we saw it.. everyone was turning and running.. running towards us! I had H sleeping in my arms.. I ran.. I didn't know what to do.. I went to the nearest wall and clung to it.. H still in my arms, my eyes searching for M and D. I spotted D standing dazed in the middle of the hall.. the stampede of people coming his way.. I screamed his name.. I screamed.. I couldn't leave H.. where was M.. and in a flash the screaming people passed by and I closed my eyes holding H closer.. and then it was over.

The first thing I did was search the ground afraid to find my baby boy on the floor somewhere.. But he wasn't . thank god.. thank god.. and then I heard M call my name and he had D.. D was fine.. crying.. a small bump on his head. 

But it wasn't over yet.. only minutes later we were faced with another stampede. Everyone was confused.. no one knew what was going on.. a terror attack? Families were separated,  a mother searching for her child.. a woman with a bleeding leg.. we were ushered into a room.. down a flight of steps.. up another.. people started to push.. people were losing their calm.. 

After what seems like an hour we were told the coast was clear, we could head back downstairs for immigration.. finally. 

Lines began to form and it was as if order had been restored.. We were probably 30 minutes into the process, still in the immigration line when the police rushed in screaming 'everybody down, everybody get down' and that's what we did.. Stayed in that position for.. I don;t even know how long. SWAT walked through us.. they were looking for something.. or someone.. we heard talks about a shooter.. we heard talks of Terminal 8 being shut down as well.. we were in Terminal 1.



After some time we were allowed to get up again but still no word on being able to get out. It was sometime before midnight that the immigration officers returned and it was 1:10am by the time we left the airport.. another hour before we finally got home.. Home.. 

The next morning when we checked the news to see what exactly had happened.. turns out false reports had been called in claiming shots had been fired outside both Terminals 1 and 8 due to which we were put under lock down while the police searched for a shooter. But no one was found, no shell casing, no evidence to support the reports..

Okay then..  

Sorry to start off with such a downer but I felt I had to share.

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Comments

  1. Oh my goodness, that is utterly terrifying! I am so so sorry! I am so happy you all are safe and well.

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  2. That does not sound fun at all! Glad you are finally home.

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  3. welcome home ... sorry it was so traumatic ...

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  4. glad you're okay and finally home! xx

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  5. Oh my gosh! So great to hear nothing really happened and no one was hurt, but that is literally every parent's worst nightmare:(

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  6. Oh no - I'm so sorry that getting home was so terrible for you!

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  7. That is an absolute nightmare. It must have been very frightening, especially with your two kids there. So glad to hear you're all ok.

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  8. OMG! That was so scary. Glad no one was hurt and that you're back safe and sound.

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  9. That is terrifying! I can't even imagine. I'm glad all turned out ok and everyone was safe, but sheesh that is something!
    I look forward to your travel posts...I can't wait to hear where you went in Europe! :)

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    Replies
    1. Interestingly, LAX (here in Los Angeles) had similar false reports last night. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lax-scare-police-say-loud-noises-not-gunshots-caused-panic-n639191
      I wonder if the two are related...however I don't think JFK had a Zorro.

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  10. How scary and awful! I'm glad there was no bad situation in the end and that everyone is ok.

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  11. Scary for you but very interesting to read about.

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  12. Nice post! Have a lovely Wednesday. :)

    STYLEFORMANKIND.COM
    Bloglovin

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  13. Oh my god, Hena. How horrible. I'm so glad everyone was okay.

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  14. That sounds like scary BS. I'm glad it was a false report in the end, and you guys were all fine.

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  15. amazing. definitely very cool.
    xxx
    mari
    www.ilovegreeninspiration.com

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  16. Oh my gosh, how scary! Especially with kids there. Also I can see how you would be upset since it turned out to be a false alarm anyway.

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  17. Oh, my goodness! What a nightmare. I'm glad everyone is okay.

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  18. Oh how scary! I'm so sorry you and the family had to go through that. Your poor son; I hope he didn't have nightmares. I'm glad he wasn't hurt any further.

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  19. Oh Hena!!! how awful awful awful. I don't know how you did it without tears, I would have just crumbled into a hot mess. I am thankful it was a false alarm and I am glad you are back safe and sound. I hope this never ever happens to you again.

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  20. I am glad to see you posting again... but can't imagine how scary this must have been! I am so glad that your family is okay, but can't imagine how terrified you must have been trying to protect the kids and not knowing what was going on.

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  21. This is so inspiring! I love the post:)

    irenethayer.com

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  22. omg.. that's so scary.. good to know you got home safe

    Have a great weekend!
    Animated Confessions

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  23. So so scary!!!! Glad to hear that all is well though!

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  24. I'm so sorry to hear you have had such a hard time on the aiport. It must have been really scary and it is a relief to hear that it all ended well. Airports have a strict security and being there when there is an alert of anykind is a nightmare!!! talk about caught in the wrong time and wrong place...but at least you made it home safely.

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  25. What a fright it all must have given you! I'm so glad you're safe!

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  26. This sounds like such a hellish experiences - everyone running in one way like a stampede must have been terrifying! So glad you're okay and that the nightmare is over, and I hope the month ends on a much brighter note for you..

    aglassofice.com
    x

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  27. Oh goodness, what a stressful return home! I'm glad everything ended up being ok!

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  28. Ugh, awful! Glad it was all okay. In other news: I'm enjoying catching up on your adventures—it had been too long! :)

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  29. OMG how scary. Glad it was a false alarm and glad none of you were seriously hurt. Hope D handled it all ok - I can't imagine how scary it was at but especially as a child.

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  30. Sorry to read about such a negative, initial experience... hope all has gotten better!!


    Amber
    All the Cute

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  31. wow oh my gosh! so glad that you are okay now and are safe. god bless!
    xO!
    www.thehautecookie.com

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  32. I'm so happy you are safe and sound now!

    God bless,

    XO, Claire

    Http://www.littlemissfashionqueen.com

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